Collection and disposal of ship{40 s sewage

ABSTRACT

A system for collecting waste discharge by gravity into float supported pipes. The pipes terminate into a submerged sewage holding and pumping station. From there it is pumped into existing sanitary sewer lines on shore.

United States Patent Walker 1March 20, 1973 COLLECTION AND DISPOSAL OF [56] References Cited I SHIP S SEWAGE UNITED STATES PATENTS [75] Inventor Charles walkerTustir" calif' 3,528,462 9/1970 Quase ..137/236 x 73] Assigneez The United states of America as 2,594,105 4/1952 Watts l 14/05 T represented y the Secretary of the 3,590,887 7/1971 Quase ..137/236 X N avy Primary Examiner--Trygve M. Blix [22] Filed: April 15, 1971 AttorneyR. S. Sciascia and Roy Miller [21] Appl. No.: 134,284 [57] ABSTRACT A system for collecting waste discharge by gravity into [52] US. Cl. ..1l4/0.5 R, 137/236 float supported pipes The pipes terminate into a sub- [51] Int. Cl. ..B63b 35/00 merged sewage holding and pumping station. From [58] Field of Search ..114/0.5 T, 74 R, 183; 4/10; there it is p p into existing Sanitary Sewer lines 011 137/23 shore.

3 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTEDMARZO I975 SHEET 18F 3 INVENTOR. CHARLES W WALKER BY. ROY MILLER ATTORNEY.

PATENTED MR 2 0 I973 SHEET 2 OF 3 FIG. 2.

P I nmmo I975 3.721. 207' SHEET 3 0F 3 FIG. 3.

COLLECTION AND DISPOSAL OF SHIPS SEWAGE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention pertains to the collection and disposal of ships sewage.

It is common practice for ships to flow their sewage and other waste overboard, regardless of whether they are berthed or at sea. Due to the pollution of harbors, rivers, lakes, and oceans where ships ply it is necessary that ships cease the practice of flowing their wastes overboard. Also, several laws and the like have been passed which prohibit such practices.

This invention provides clean discharge of waste from ships afloat to shore discharge. While some systems provide means for transferring waste material from ships into holding containers, such as the US. Pat. to Olsson No. 2,571,932, none do so in the novel and economical manner of this invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention provides a system for collecting ships overboard discharges by running the discharges by gravity through a floating pipe and discharging the discharges into a submerged sewage pumping plant or holding station from whence it is pumped into the nearest domestic collection manhole. Due to the lack of sewage disposal facilities aboard ship and inadequate pier facilities to handle the flow of ship discharges, it is imperative that an interim means be provided to dispose of ships discharges. Indeed, this invention may well be a permanent solution for most ships discharges. This invention has the advantages of easy and quick fabrication, relative low cost and easy adaptability to ships which would otherwise flow their discharges overboard polluting the water in which they ply.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plan view showing the invention connected to a ship;

FIG. 2 is an elevational cross-section showing the submerged pumping station;

FIG. 3 shows in detail how the invention is connected toaship.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The invention comprises a series of fiberglass pipes cast in styrofoam floats 12 and connected by rubber connectors 14. The rubber connectors are in turn connected by flexible rubber hoses 16 to ship outlets 18. The series of pipes are pitched towards the submerged pumping station 20 so that the ship discharge will flow by gravity to the pumping station.

The floats 12 which serve to support the transfer line comprised of pipes 10 and connectors 14 are connected to each other by tension rods 22 connected by jaw and cleat connectors 24. The jaw and cleat connectors on the side adjacent the ship are connected with an eyebolt 26 which screws into the inside jaw member allowing the tie rods to pivot with respect to each other.

A metal bar 28 serves to connect eyebolt 26 to eyebolt 30 which is welded onto the ship.

The flexible rubber hoses I6 are connected to rubber elbows 32 which are clamped over the outlet 18. This is accomplished by weldlng clamping angles 34' to the side of the ship.

OPERATION In operation, discharge from the ships outlets and scuppers flows through the flexible rubber hoses 16 into the piping system and is fed by gravity to a submerged pumping station. Discharge material is allowed to accumulate until floating pump control 36 signals pumps 38 to pump the discharge material into a shore sewage system.

What is claimed is:

l. A system for collecting a ships discharges comprising:

a holding container;

a first conduit running the length of the ship and being pitched downward towards and being in communication with said holding container;

a plurality of second conduits located at positions along the side of the ship and being in communication with said first conduit at their lower end;

metal plates attached around the upper ends of said second conduits;

pairs of angle irons welded to the ships side adjacent openings in the ships side;

each said pair of irons being parallel to each other and being located on opposite side of said openings;

a first leg of each said pair of irons being located perpendicular and attached to the side;

the second leg of each said pair of irons being parallel to the side and extending toward each other;

said plates being slideable between and under said pairs of iron;

means attached to said irons for urging said plates against said openings; and

means for removing said discharges from said holding container.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

styrofoam floats;

portions of said first conduit being located along the center of said floats;

tension rods passing through said floats and being hingeably connected to each other; and

means for connecting said rods to eyebolts attached to the side of the ship.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said holding container comprises:

a lower compartment for holding ships discharges;

an upper compartment containing pumps for removing said discharges from said lower compartment;

said upper compartment being easily accessible for repair of said pumps; and

all of lower compartment and a portion of said upper compartment being below the water level the intakes of said pumps extending down into said lower compartment. 

1. A system for collecting a ship''s discharges comprising: a holding container; a first conduit running the length of the ship and being pitched downward towards and being in communication with said holding container; a plurality of second conduits located at positions along the side of the ship and being in communication with said first conduit at their lower end; metal plates attached around the upper ends of said second conduits; pairs of angle irons welded to the ship''s side adjacent openings in the ship''s side; each said pair of irons being parallel to each other and being located on opposite side of said openings; a first leg of each said pair of irons being located perpendicular and attached to the side; the second leg of each said pair of irons being parallel to the side and extending toward each other; said plates being slideable between and under said pairs of iron; means attached to said irons for urging said plates against said openings; and means for removing said discharges from said holding container.
 2. The system of claim 1 further comprising: styrofoam floats; portions of said first conduit being located along the center of said floats; tension rods passing through said floats and being hingeably connected to each other; and means for connecting said rods to eyebolts attached to the side of the ship.
 3. The system of claim 1 wherein said holding container comprises: a lower compartment for holding ship''s discharges; an upper compartment containing pumps for removing said discharges from said lower compartment; said upper compartment being easily accessible for repair of said pumps; and all of lower compartment and a portion of said upper compartment being below the water level the intakes of said pumps extending down into said lower compartment. 